Nearly one in three passengers would consider living long-term on a cruise ship, according to a recent survey by cruise.co.uk.
The cruise specialist announced the finding as part of a poll of 700 of its customers, which asked if they would be interested in an extended sea break of six months or more.
Results are as follows:
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- 3 in 10 cruise holidaymakers are open to living long-term on a ship
- The opportunity to see the world is the most popular reason cited
- UK favourite P&O Cruises is the preferred line for an extended stay
1% of those questioned went further and said they are actively looking into living onboard.
The most attractive benefit of a life at sea is ‘to view the world’, which was listed by 34% of respondents.
‘No need to worry about home maintenance, housekeeping or cooking’ came second at 26%, while ‘knowing my budget for everything in advance’ was third at 14%.
P&O Cruises was the favoured cruise line, with 31% saying they would like a long-term stay on one of their seven ships.
The Southampton-based operator offers a mix of both family-friendly and adult-only departures.
Celebrity Cruises was next at 12%, while Cunard and Royal Caribbean both polled 11%.
Tony Andrews, Managing Director of cruise.co.uk, said: “These findings highlight a growing interest in the unique lifestyle that long-term cruising offers.
“From the appeal of exploring all seven continents to the convenience of worry-free living, it’s clear there is a real desire to make a holiday at sea a more permanent arrangement.
“And with so much to do both onboard and on land, the opportunities for adventure are endless.
“It’s something of a myth that people can choose to live on cruise ships, with that possibility only open in a few cases.
“But there is a significant potential market for those cruise lines who would consider offering passengers more long-standing options onboard.”
Top five reasons for living onboard
* Being able to see the world – 34%
* No need to worry about home maintenance, housekeeping or cooking – 26%
* Knowing my budget for everything in advance – 14%
* A distinctive and adventurous way of life – 11%
* Fewer possessions and responsibilities – 9%
Top five preferred long-term cruise lines
* P&O Cruises – 31%
* Celebrity Cruises – 12%
* Cunard – 11%
* Royal Caribbean – 11%
* Princess Cruises – 10%
For more information go to cruise.co.uk or call 0330 303 8478.
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